it's a unique organization here in washington and throughout the country. really i like the phrase of action intellectual. you produce some really thoughtful work that informs policy, and you've also been very effective advocates. secondly, i'm really honored to receive this award in the name of jeane kirkpatrick, another independent democrat. she might have been so independent she became a republican, i don't know. [laughter] she was an i inspiration both to read her stuff and watch at the u.n. a real honor to accept this award with my colleague and really dear friend jon kyl who is, you know, the model of what a public servant should be. he works very hard. he was gifted with some brains to start out with, but he really uses them. and his thoughtful and in this extremely almost reflectsively combative political climate, he happens to be a gentleman, and that matters. it's been my honor really to work with him on many issues of common interest over the years. i look forward to continuing it in the what one of our senate colleagues calls the after life. [la